Contact for electrical heater plugs



Nov. 12, 1929. J. P. EASTMAN 1,735,533

7 CONTACT 30R ELECTRICAL HEATER PLUGS Filed March 14, 1927 Patented Nov. 12, 1929 UNITED. STATES JOSEPH PETER EASTMAN, OF MANITOWOG, WISCONSIN common: r013. nmcgrmcn. HEATER noes f Application filed March 14, 1927. SeriaI No, 175,103. 3

This invention relates to prong receiving contacts. j v

Objects of this invention are to provide a prong receiving contact for electrical devices which is so constructed that the two lips of the contact are held together permanently in a very rigid and secure manner and independently of the conductor receiving screw or member, so that the "conductor receiving member may be adjusted, loosened, or tightened, without in any way affecting the relative positioning of the two contact receiving lips or members. Further objects are to provide a prong receiving contact which is so constructed that it may be readily formed for its major part from flat sheetmetal and easily shaped, and which is so constructed that a rivet ,is employed for holding the two lips of the de- 2 vice in an intimate contact, such rivet being itself tapped for the reception of the screw and thus performing a double function and acting both as a rigid. clamp for the lips of the device and also as a threaded bushing for the reception of the screw.

Further, it is well known that the guiding lips for the wires have been universally formed at the side of the prong receivingmemberand, consequently, do,not accurately guide the wire or conductor, but instead, provide a relatively large space in which the conductor may move with the consequent looseningbf the screw.

This invention is designed to overcome the defect noted above and a further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of upturned ears-so positioned thata downwardly tapered restricted slot is provided for the reception of the end of the wire adjacent the screw so that the wire is held against motion, and to so construct these ears that they may be formed without requiring additional width of the stock.

Further objects are to provide an upturned rear end for the contact clip which is equipped with the ears for guiding the wire and which also abuts the rearend of the upper clip member and in cooperation with the rivet seto .curely retains the upper member against relative rocln'nig motion with respect to the lower a member. f

Anembodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1; v

v Figure 3 is a rear view of the device;

Figure 4 is afront view of the device.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the prong receiving contact consists of a lower clip 1 and an upper clip 2 whose flattened portions are held together by means of a rivet 3. These members 1 and 2 are arched laterally into the form shown particularly in Figures 2 and 4, and thus provide partially rounded lips 4 and 5 for the reception of the prong.

The rear end of the flat portion 2 of the upper clip abuts the upturned rear portion 6 of the lower clip and forms therewith a relatively wide contacting or bearing surface which in conjunction with the rivet 3, prevents relative turning of the two portions of the clip. This upturned portion 6 is continued upwardly in the form of a pair of. spaced ears 7 which have a gradually constricted space 8 between them with the lower portion of this notch or opening rounded-to thus avoid any possibility of cutting of the wires.

It is to be noted particularly'that the upturned rear portion of the lower clip is of the same width as the body portion of the clip and, consequently, an increase, in the width of stock avoided with the result that relatively narrdw stock can be usedin the manufacture of these clips, as distinguished from the relatively wider stock that is necessary for clips having side lugs turned inwardly over the other clip. It is to be noted particularly that the rivet 3 is rovided with a central aperture tapped for he reception of the screw 9 whose relatively large head 10 binds the curved end orlooped end 11- of the conductor or wire 12 between its el fand the upper flat face o'fthe rivet 3, as shown most clearly in Figure.2. This insures a secure contact between the con- 100 ductor the clip and in conunction with the downwardly tapered note formed betweenthe ears 7 retains the conductor against loosening due to lateral motion or rocking motion about the screw.

Thus, it will be seen that a pron receiving contact has been provided in whic the clips are held together by means independent of the adjustment of the conductor clamping member, but which cooperates with the conductor clamping member to securely clamp the conductor in'intimate binding engage- I mentwiththe contact member It will beseen further that the upturned 'rearportion of the lower clip performs the double function of providing ears for ac- 4 curately positioning the conductor and also of providing an abrupt shoulder against which the rear end of the upper clip bears,

to thus prevent relative turning of the two clips forming the contact member.

Further, attention is directed to the extreme simplicity of construction attained by this invention.

It will be seen that. flat stock of uniform width throughout may be employed in the formation of the clip and that the two parts may be securely held together by means of a single rivet which not only 'binds them together, but in conjunction with theupturned end prevents relative rotation. Further, this rivet forms the. threaded bushing for the reception of the clamping screw.

' Although the invention has been descrbed in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention maiyrbe variously embodie and as the scope 0 determined as claimed.

Iclaim: 1. A rong receiving contact comprising a pair 0 clips, means joining said clips, one

of said clips having its. rear end upturned' prongs, the other of-said clips having an abrupt shoulder abutting said upturned end, said rivet having a tapped hole therethrough, and a conductor clamping screw threaded into the tapped hole of said rivet;

3. A prong'receiving contact comprising a pair of clips, a rivet joining said clips, a conductor gripping member co-operati-n with said rivet to grip a conductor,-.onefof said clips having its rear end'upturned and: provided with apair of spaced lugs, the other of said lugs havmg its corresponding end in engagement with the upturned end abutting of said first clip.

such invention is to be I In testimony that i clai fii the foregoingl have hereunto set my hand at Manitowoc, in

the county of Manitowoc, and State of Wisconsin.

JOSEPH PETER EASTMAN. 

